[ aquarius records — Reggae Dub ]

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Classic reggae album from 1974, now reissued with bonus tracks.

This isn't the latest release by Armenian dub experimentalist, Fedayi Pacha, but we were intrigued by the cover of this one, a goggled arab nomad brandishing what looks like a firearm (but what could also be a horn or a hookah) that we decided to check this one out first. And it's pretty awesome! We're generally a little wary of electronica with Asian or Middle Eastern influences, always reminding us of that nineties Asian underground scene that got a little too pervasive and cheesy really quick. Yet Pacha manages to reign in that sound, using traditional Middle Eastern instruments and influences with a dark and heavy dub sheen adding layers of complexity, mystery and subtle dread to the proceedings, reminding us of what groups like Muslimgauze used to do best. If you are looking for a different and interesting take on classic dub, this doesn't disappoint!

MPEG stream: Apricot Wood
MPEG stream: Bhayrawi Steppa
MPEG stream: Bhayravi Dub
MPEG stream: Londoninstan

Excellent dancehall mix of Dawn Penn's sorrowful "No, No, No (You Don't Love Me)" featuring a beefier beat and interjections from U-"Wake The Town And Tell The People"-Roy.

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Another collection of Perry dub from the label that brought us the stunning "Kung Fu Meets The Dragon".

Nice vinyl only reissue of Lee Perry's 1973 Blackboard Jungle Dub. 12 cuts of stripped down dub, with some fine screams and other "non-musical" noises thrown in to boot. Quite similar to "Kung Fu Meets The Dragon." Recorded at the Black Ark by Scratch and mixed by King Tubby at King Tubby's. Features Aston & Carlton Barrett, Winston Wright, Gladstone Anderson, Skully and more.

23 tracks, 9 previously unreleased, highlighting Perry's more esoteric production efforts taken from the beginning of his career as an independant producer in 1969 on up to 1975. This is really quite an exceptional collection of recordings and the unreleased

Mixed bag collection of Lee Perry productions and bogus (ie: non-Perry cuts). The tracks date as far back as 1966 and as recent as 1990 (with the bulk of the actual Perry tracks residing in the early Black Ark era around 197 to 1975) to our knowledge -- the fellers who compiled this anthology chose not to include any information about their choices (hmmm... I wonder why?) The material is primarily instrumentals and dubs, with a couple of Perry vocals thrown in for kicks. Among the more familiar Perry tracks: Flames of the Dragon, Django Shoots First, Enter the Dragon and Clint Eastwood Rides Again. For what it's worth, some of the bogus tracks (not even David Katz's thorough Perry discography has any record of them) like "Army Dub" and a dub of Johnny Clarke's "Every Knee Shall Bow" are quite nice even if they aren't the work of Lee Perry.

RealAudio clip: Django Shoots First
RealAudio clip: Supersonic Man

Yet another collection of tracks produced by the inimitable Lee 'Scratch' Perry. Taken from sessions recorded from 1973 - 1977 and featuring D.D. Dennis, The Viceroys, Eric Donaldson, Bree Daniels and much more. The tracks are mostly of the back to back vocal /

HOLY SHIT! If there was gonna be a dubstep jam of the year, this is IT. Lee Perry taking on Black Sabbath's immortal "Iron Man", and it's a twisted, speaker shaking, dancefloor destroying, bass heavy whatthefuck for sure, with Perry's vocals slurred and laid back and definitely a little drunken sounding, the chorus a woozy pitch shifted sing along, with that classic main riff replaced by thick stuttering bass wobble, the drums wildly skittering, the whole thing dense and bassy and HEAVY. The flipside is the 'dub' mix, and if anything, it just takes the best parts of the original (which is basically EVERYTHING) and twists them all up, and makes them somehow even MORE, the bass more distorted, the beat harder and more convoluted, the vocals chopped up to mirror the stuttering bass, all wound up into a totally irresistible dubbed out, bass heavy, dubstep CRUSHER. We can only imagine what must happen when a DJ lets this one rip. Fucking epic. Now we need to hear Lee Perry take on a whole record of Sabbath dubs. But for now, this will do, BIG TIME. And of course WAY limited, ONLY 300 COPIES. Grab one while you can...

Classic Lee Perry dub madness from 1975. This is the most consistantly selling reggae/dub album we stock, and for good reason - on these tracks Lee Perry somehow manages to channel the spirit of Bruce Lee expressed in dub. Aside from the contextual intros to let you know who you're up against, there's some kick ass dub on this album and a lot of what sounds like Lee Perry with gas pains burping through the session. And if that's not enough, there's an awesome cover drawing of a Bruce Lee cum Lee Perry figure extended in a kung fu kick and surrounded by a dragon. One of the best and essential dub albums to own!

MPEG stream: Enter The Dragon
MPEG stream: Theme From Hong Kong
MPEG stream: Heart Of The Dragon
MPEG stream: Hold Them Kung Fu

I bet some of you are wondering just when these collections of unreleased, lost, MIA, and otherwise obscure tracks from the archives of Lee Perry are going to end. Well, I guess one answer might be "hopefully never", because there's definitely a lot of great stuff consistantly being recovered from the bygone days of the Ark. Having said that, it must also be added that this

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SORRY. Although the first six tracks of this disk can be found on the Voodooism collection, the remaining tracks are all unreleased and, since the release of the recent biography of Lee Perry in which they were praised to the utmost as crucial tracks, highly sought after. We apologise that it is not only a mere cd-r, but so pricey as well. And though I don't quite see the crucialness of the unreleased tracks here, the higher authorities on dub still argue its validity and, needless to say, it's an extremely limited issue.

There are these little things that Lee Perry will do sometimes that continue to make me giddy: capitalizing on the sound of a dying organ in its swan song, using the mixing console's test tone generator or a momentary feedback loop to create a blast of

RealAudio clip: Three Blind Dub
RealAudio clip: Perry's Rub - A - Dub
RealAudio clip: Roots Rock Dub

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SORRY. Three Upsetters LPs in one set: Africa's Blood, Rhythm Shower & Double Seven.

Collection of Recordings from Lee Perry's Black Ark Studio made throughout the seventies. All the tracks here were culled from rare singles - which now fetch a pretty penny on the market - most of which were never released outside of Jamaica and none of which appear to have been reissued on cd prior to this anthology. There is a fair amount of variety on this disk: reggae and dub (a few vocal/version back to backs) from The Upsetters, Zap Pow, Earl Sixteen, Leo Graham, The Black Notes, Lloyd & Devon and more. For those of you looking for Lee Perry's more insane forays be warned that the tracks found here are all straight up reggae and dub.

Starting in 1969, Trojan records began a special subsidiary label devoted to releasing the singles representing the best works from Jamaica's most profound producer, engineer and performer: Lee 'Scratch' Perry. In three years the label, Upsetter Records, had issued more than 100 singles, or well over 200 tracks. Now, 30 years later, Trojan has re-issued the entire output of their UK singles on four double disc sets. Each set is a very handsomely packaged affair: the disks come in an attractive yet durable hardcover book, each with a different photo of the Upsetter himself on the cover. Each book contains several pages of bio information on Lee Perry relating to the period covered by each set, as well as 35 additional pages of notes on the individual recordings for each set and sprinkled with archival photos. Volume one contains the first 50 tracks in the series and recorded in 1969, shortly after Perry left his last employer (producer Joe Gibbs) in order to promote his own work under the flag of Upsetter Productions. Given the year these recordings were made, it should come as no surprise to the dominance of rock-steady and ska tracks on this set.

RealAudio clip: Eight For Eight
RealAudio clip: Cold Sweat
RealAudio clip: No Bread & Butter

Starting in 1969, Trojan records began a special subsidiary label devoted to releasing the singles representing the best works from Jamaica's most profound producer, engineer and performer: Lee 'Scratch' Perry. In three years the label, Upsetter Records, had issued more than 100 singles, or well over 200 tracks. Now, 30 years later, Trojan has re-issued the entire output of their UK singles on four double disc sets. Each set is a very handsomely packaged affair: the disks come in an attractive yet durable hardcover book, each with a different photo of the Upsetter himself on the cover. Each book contains several pages of bio information on Lee Perry relating to the period covered by each set, as well as 35 additional pages of notes on the individual recordings for each set and sprinkled with archival photos. Taking tracks from 1970, this set starts off in the apex of Perry's career. From the very first track, a classic - "Kill Them All" - you know you're dealing with a madman/genius. Along with lots of insane instrumentals, including "Toothache" (in which Mr Perry makes use of a seriously damaged and squeeling organ that sounds as if it were found in a rubbish heap), there are some great vocal tracks: the Soulettes doing "Let It Be", Bob Marley's "My Cup" and much more.

RealAudio clip: Self Control
RealAudio clip: Toothache

Starting in 1969, Trojan records began a special subsidiary label devoted to releasing the singles representing the best works from Jamaica's most profound producer, engineer and performer: Lee 'Scratch' Perry. In three years the label, Upsetter Records, had issued more than 100 singles, or well over 200 tracks. Now, 30 years later, Trojan has re-issued the entire output of their UK singles on four double disc sets. Each set is a very handsomely packaged affair: the disks come in an attractive yet durable hardcover book, each with a different photo of the Upsetter himself on the cover. Each book contains several pages of bio information on Lee Perry relating to the period covered by each set, as well as 35 additional pages of notes on the individual recordings for each set and sprinkled with archival photos. All tracks here are taken from singles released in 1971. As well as Bob Marley's haunting and strange "Mr. Brown" about a possessed and evil crow, with it's rumbling fuzzy organ filling out the bottom, there are a number of other tracks that Perry produced of Marley, as well as some beautiful vocals from Hortence Ellis and much more.

RealAudio clip: Mr Brown
RealAudio clip: The Creeper
RealAudio clip: Piece of My Heart

Starting in 1969, Trojan records began a special subsidiary label devoted to releasing the singles representing the best works from Jamaica's most profound producer, engineer and performer: Lee 'Scratch' Perry. In three years the label, Upsetter Records,

RealAudio clip: Seven & Three Quarters Skank
RealAudio clip: Africa Stand
RealAudio clip: Preacher Man

Reissue of Lee Perry's 1987 collaboration with Adrian Sherwood's Dub Syndicate. Perry and Sherwood share the controls and Perry exclusively retains possession of the microphone. Amusing, yes, but it's a bit cursed by that late eighties production -- read new

RealAudio clip: Blinkery

Released last week exclusively for Black Friday Record Store Day, here's a deluxe limited edition double vinyl version of this all-time Lee Perry & The Upsetters roots dub reggae classic. With one of the best album covers ever, a crazed giant super ape uprooting trees. From 1976, recorded at Perry's famed Black Ark studio, it's an essential production from the man. Who is the Man. When it comes to dub production. Up there with other Perry-produced classics of the era like the Heart Of The Congos and War Ina Babylon. You get three sides of dubbed out Scratch & The Upsetters groove - including 3 bonus cuts not on the original Island lp - with the fourth side featuring a custom etching. Also in the package, a 23" x 23" poster! One of the better Black Friday RSD releases in our opinion. Like it says on the cover, Dub It Up Blacker Than Dread!

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SORRY. 12 cuts of stripped down dub, with some fine screams and other "non-musical" noises thrown in to boot. Quite similar to "Kung Fu Meets The Dragon." Recorded at the Black Ark by Scratch and mixed by King Tubby at King Tubby's. Features Aston & Carlton Barrett, Winston Wright, Gladstone Anderson, Skully and more. Pressed on a nice thick slab of Dutch vinyl directly from the master tapes.

Sadly, an unremarkable new album from Lee Perry. It's tempting to give props for sticking with a live band to lay down the tracks on this album, but then I remember those insane Ariwa proto-drum n' bass discs that Perry put his name to and think better of it. The tracks on "Jamaican E.T." sound like some tepid hotel reggae band where a drunk and senile Perry has stumbled over from the

1988 recording of Lee Perry made in an English studio and backed up by studio musicians. For the most part this is standard late-eighties reggae fare (including a couple Marley covers: Exodus & Keep On Moving) except for the fact that Lee Perry is on the microphone - and that always has interesting results. The first track in particular is interesting, for it sounds like a toasting track from late night college radio 'Scratch' style. There's something to be said about the sound of a group of studio musicians and back up singers dutifully backing up an absolute madman... I'm just not sure the word has been invented yet.

Still at it after all these years. One of the forefathers of Reggae and Dub is back with another album. This one recorded as he neared the age of 70 in 2004 and seeing a wider release thanks to Narnack who have included a bonus disc which includes a few remixes by the likes of DJ Spooky and Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio). With Swiss group White Belly Rats as his back up band, Panic In Babylon is a record of seriously solid reggae beats and funky soulful groove but as always, the focus is on Perry's amazing ramblings, insights into and delusions of madness and brilliance. Definitely one of the best Perry records in a long while. In fact we know loads of folks half Perry's age that sound totally tired and past their prime, but here is Mr. Lee 'Scratch' Perry, well into his 70's and kicking up a serious dubbed out shitstorm and showing everyone how it's STILL done!

MPEG stream: Pussy Man
MPEG stream: Panic InBabylon

Decent collection of Prince Buster's recordings if you want to get a flavor for his style. Featuring his all time hit "Al Capone" plus many other great tracks, including the scandalously misogynist "Ten Commandments" off Wreck A Pum Pum and a couple of the best tracks off of the Judge Dread album.

Where in Prince Buster holds court as Judge Dread One Hundred Years. Great collection of rock-steady tracks with regular appearances by the judge as he sentences rude boys to 400 years in prison and as many lashes for murder, crying (rude boys are not supposed to cry) and interrupting. All done in Prince Buster's trademark spoken-singing.

RealAudio clip: Ghost Dance
RealAudio clip: Judge Dread
RealAudio clip: Nothing Takes The Place Of You

Vinyl only re-issue of a rare live recording of Prince Buster from a concert in the UK in 1967. The recording, though not the most hi-fi in audio quality, is quite good and the performance is stunning. According to the MC at the beginning of the show, it was on Prince Buster's birthday that the concert was held and Buster performs with the energy of a birthday boy. Backed up by a full band

Excellent collection of Prince Buster's ska, or blue beat tracks. Unfortunately, whoever was in charge of this re-issue compilation was not so savvy about visual aesthetics. Really bad layout, combined with the oh so irritating "juice bar" font that everyone hates, makes this album seem as though it's going to be a terrible '90s world beat experience. Includes such influential hits as "Madness" and "Enjoy Yourself".

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SORRY. Volume one of the Golden Oldies collection of Prince Buster's works. This one contains lots of his best ska tracks. Track listing: Chineman, They Got To Come, Time Longer Than Rope, Tommy Will Tell, Madness, Wash Wash, Enjoy Yourself, Danny Dame & Lorraine, Over & Over.

A collection of some of Buster's ska tunes. No dates here, but this 3rd volume of Golden Oldies contains a lot of very righteous lyrics and some Maytals-esque gospel style back up vocals. Contains: Dog War, Pain In My Belly, Treating Me Bad, Bet You Lied, Judgement Day, Domino, Little Flea, He Is Real, Light Of The World, Good Idea & You Got Me Spinning.

Great record, with a cover that looks as though it was pulled out of a thrift store: a bikini clad female pistolero stands in front of a desert mountain, with three cowboys drawing up on horse back in the distance. The colors are all washed out like the album had been printed on newsprint and left in the sun for weeks on end. Musically this album is a keeper as well - tight ska with lots of Prince Buster's patented "hic-up" style vocal accompaniment when there's no singing. Includes his hit Al Capone and 11 other tracks. Sorry, not available on cd.

If there were ever a hokum rocksteady or ska record, this would be it. 12 tracks about sex and sex. The album opens with the title track -- "Wreck A Pum Pum" -- which is fittingly built around the melody of the x-mas standard "Little Drummer Boy". In this track Prince Buster describes his desire to have a woman, regardles of her looks, to "wreck a pum pum tonight." I might add that this album is not for anyone who may be sensitive to some blatant misogynist songwriting. The second track -- maybe as a consolation to the fairer sex -- is the same song only now sung by two women and directed at the guys. The song itself is actually damn catchy, and the treatment by the women, sung in a shrill duet, is wonderful. The album is actually full of a lot of great songs if you can bear it (the most absurdly brutal tune being Prince Buster's "Ten Commandments" to his woman.)

RealAudio clip: Wreck A Pum Pum
RealAudio clip: Pum Pum A Go Will You
RealAudio clip: Whine & Grine